I grew up on a fruit growing property near Mildura. We knew the seasons, the weather, the birds and animals, the skies. When I was a teenager, my parents joined a local Field Naturalists Club which led to excursions into the bush and along the Murray and Darling Rivers. When I married and moved to Melbourne I had to live near some open space and bushland. We were lucky enough to find Blackburn.

In 1977/78, the bushland, now known as Cootamundra Walk, was threatened with both rubbish and building materials from both the extension of the shopping centre to the north and a housing development to the south.  A group of local residents lobbied Council to protect the bushland in particular, and to form a committee of local residents to both consult with Council and be involved with the care of the park. Two major projects have included the restoration of the embankment and valley below the shopping centre, and the open creek environment a little to the east. Plants for both these projects were grown by a newly formed nursery, now known as Bungalook.

Many of the newly formed bushland parks committees were also needing plants for restoration projects, including at Blackburn Lake and Yarran Dheran. It became evident that a volunteer-run community nursery was required. Thus, with the help of a Bicentenary Grant, a very basic nursery was established within the Council nursery. 

In 1999/2000 it became necessary to move to new premises. Space on Fulton Road in Blackburn South, within Wurundjeri Walk was available. Bungalook is now a thriving community asset providing more than 20,000 plants a year to Council, bushland parks committees, government instrumentalities, schools and local gardeners. 

To me, volunteering is a way of life.  Some have said that I have my bed at the nursery!

With increasing mobility difficulties, it has become necessary to step back from many of the physical activities required when I was a founding member of both Cootamundra Walk Advisory Committee and Bungalook Nursery. There is still much that can be done.  If possible, never let your brain stop learning.  There is a huge amount of knowledge to be shared, knowledge that has been built up over the years – be it the awareness of so many environmental issues, or in the practical applications of coordinating bushland activities or running a nursery, or the ever-expanding technical knowledge required these days. It can be quite frightening for we octogenarians, but it must be grasped with two hands. 

By volunteering and giving, so much more will be given back.  Friendships gained are so important.  It is through those friendships and the support given, that I hope to continue volunteering.